Lesson Eighteen: Writer’s Block
“You’re in the middle of writing something and your mind goes blank… ok, you’re being warned, aren’t you?” Discover Ray Bradbury’s simple tr...
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The Invisible College
Lessons in creative writing from a ghostly array of great novelists, poets and playwrights such as Ted Hughes, W.B. Yeats and Allen Ginsberg. Presented by Cathy FitzGerald.
The Invisible College Podcast Guide
Listen to The Invisible College, a Arts podcast by BBC. Stream 18 episodes in English, follow new audio stories, and play episodes online on Radio and Podcast.
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Browse this show under Arts podcasts.
Episodes
18 episodes are available for this podcast.
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Explore Arts podcasts, United Kingdom podcasts and English podcasts.
Episodes
18 episodesLesson Seventeen: What I Learned from James Baldwin
Contemporary novelist Caryl Phillips close reads a dramatic passage from ‘Another Country’ by James Baldwin to see what we can learn from th...
Lesson Sixteen: Dealing with Critics
If you’re going to put your work out in the world, then sooner or later, someone’s going to take a pop at it. This lesson features tips on h...
Lesson Fifteen: Write and Repeat
“Easy reading is damned hard writing,” says Maya Angelou. Hear the many pains she takes to ‘sharpen her language’ in this lesson about revis...
Lesson Fourteen: In Search of a Character with Graham Greene
Hear how Graham Greene gradually evolves a character – and a novel - on a research trip to a leper colony in the Congo.
Lesson Thirteen: Place
Sometimes the world gives writers a location so atmospheric it’s just waiting for a back story. But how do we do it justice? Poet Ted Hughes...
Lesson Twelve: A Workshop with Allen Ginsberg
How often do you get the chance to attend a lecture by one of the Beats? An extraordinary opportunity to spend time with poet Allen Ginsberg...
Lesson Eleven: Listen Up!
If you want to write good dialogue, you need good ears. Listen to all the little idiosyncrasies of an individual voice: the cadences, elisio...
Lesson Ten: Find your Story
Waiting for the muse to strike? Give it up and get writing. Here are five creation stories from the archives to inspire you, from novelists...
Lesson Nine: Keep Human
In praise of day-dreaming, holidays and playing hookey: this lesson exalts the importance of time off. Go to the pub with W.B. Yeats, flit t...
Lesson Eight: The Writer’s Mind
The subconscious mind can be the writer’s greatest helper – or nastiest foe. This lesson considers ways to access its mysterious depths, wit...
Lesson Seven: Routines and Rituals
Yes, we need talent – but we also need discipline. In other words: keep your ass in the chair. With tips from Daphne du Maurier, Graham Gree...
Lesson Six: A Note on Style
Show don’t tell. Well, no, actually – show AND tell. This lesson explores different ways of presenting a scene, with tips from the Yiddish w...
Lesson Five: Planning a Route
To plot or not to plot – that’s the question. Some writers plan in advance; others set out without a map and see where they wind up. Featuri...
Lesson Four: Creating Characters
How nosy are you about your protagonist? Do you know what she eats for breakfast? Likes to dance to? How she parts her hair? A lesson about...
Lesson Three: Getting Better Acquainted with Words
How do we recognise a dancing, hell-raising word from one that just wants a quiet life flat on the page? Poet Ted Hughes helps us recognise...
Lesson Two: Sell your Heart
How do we find a voice? Figure out what’s ours – and only ours – to say? Tips from Neil Gaiman and Invisible College favourite, Ray Bradbury...
Lesson One: The Importance of Reading
If you want to write – read. Marinate your mind in the sentence and the word. With Susan Sontag on the book-drunken life; Ralph Ellison on t...
Questions About The Invisible College
Where can I listen to The Invisible College episodes?
You can listen to The Invisible College episodes online on Radio and Podcast. Open an episode and the site player will stream the available audio.
What is The Invisible College about?
The Invisible College is listed as a Arts show. The show language is listed as English.
How many The Invisible College episodes are listed?
This page lists 18 episodes for The Invisible College.
Quick Answers About The Invisible College
Where can I listen to The Invisible College?
You can listen to The Invisible College episodes on this page by opening an episode and using the site player.
What type of podcast is The Invisible College?
The Invisible College is listed as a Arts show by BBC.
How many episodes are available?
This page lists 18 episodes for The Invisible College where feed data is available.